LA Times Mini Crossword

About LA Times Mini Crossword

The Mini Crossword is the quick companion to the Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword. Where the full puzzle takes a coffee break, the mini is a 5x5 grid with ten answers, five across and five down, meant to be solved in a minute or two. A new grid comes out each day and everyone gets the same one, so times can be compared.

The puzzles in the current run are written by Elizabeth C. Gorski, a long-time crossword constructor. The game runs on the PuzzleMe player from Amuse Labs inside the LA Times games page, with the usual typing, clue list and check or reveal tools. A date picker keeps the previous two weeks of minis open, and signing in with an LA Times account adds streaks and achievements.

The LA Times games page also carries the Daily Crossword, a Midi Crossword, Sudoku, Killer Sudoku, Wordflower, Word Search and other dailies, so the mini is easy to fold into a longer routine. It suits anyone who wants a quick, free crossword fix, and it is a gentle way into crosswords for new solvers.

How to play LA Times Mini Crossword

1. Open the Mini Crossword page on latimes.com/games and press Play.
2. Click a square or a clue to choose an answer; Tab or the arrow keys move between them.
3. Type your answers; each letter also fills the crossing word.
4. Use check or reveal if you get stuck, and finish the grid to see your time.
5. Pick an earlier date from the puzzle list to play a mini you missed in the last two weeks.

Tips

• Start with the clue you are surest of; in a 5x5 grid one answer gives you a letter in five others.
• Fill-in-the-blank clues are usually the quickest way in.
• If you are racing the clock, type across answers first and let the downs confirm them.

Questions